Crosby Labour Action Teams have contacted Sefton Council calling for improved street lighting and CCTV after a mugging in the town.

The teams were contacted by the victim who had her handbag stolen in the incident during the evening hours in December.

She was targeted near to Crosby Village.

The lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, said although police had been extremely helpful, CCTV in the area wasn't working and the street lighting was also very dim.

Ben Winstanley, who is the Labour candidate for Blundellsands, the ward where the lady lives, said he was working with the town's MP Bill Esterson, fellow Labour candidate Diane Roberts who will be standing in Manor Ward as well as Crosby's Cllr Steve McGinnity on the issue.

Ben said: "Incidents of this kind are clearly very distressing for anyone who has been a victim of a mugging. But you do hope that if you are in a town centre, there is sufficient street lighting and security from CCTV cameras to make you feel safe or at least to ensure that any perpetrators of crime will be apprehended.

"But what this distressing case highlights is that the CCTV cameras aren't currently in working order and the street lighting in the area isn't sufficient.

"The victim in this incident is confident that if the lighting had been up to scratch and the CCTV was in working order, then we would have been able to identify the mugger."

Diane said the Crosby Labour Action Teams were calling on improved security measures in the Village.

Diane said: "It is very concerning that the CCTV isn't in full working order in the Village.

"What we are asking for following this case is just for the very basics for creating a secure and safe shopping centre for Crosby.

"I have no doubt that the council officers responsible will be as shocked as we are with regard to this issue and will take swift action to rectify the problem."

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